Apple Removes 'Adware Doctor' From Mac App Store For Stealing User Data
Apple has finally removed a popular anti-malware program called Adware Doctor from the Mac App Store for allegedly stealing user data, virtually a month afterwards an unidentified cyber-security researcher, who goes by @privacy1st on Twitter, first contacted the company with their concerns regarding the software. According to the researcher, the program was collecting users' browsing history on the sly and sending them over to servers in China.
What is lamentable is that it was reported by me on 12th of August and Apple didn't even care… Fastened are email screenshots pic.twitter.com/v6G783h1rA
— Privacy 1st (@privacyis1st) September seven, 2018
Privacy 1st likewise made a proof-of-concept video detailing suspicious beliefs in the app, following which, cyber-security researchers Patrick Wardle of Digita Security and Thomas Reed of Malwarebytes independently investigated information technology, and institute the claims to be valid.
Co-ordinate to their investigation, Adware Doctor used its elevated permissions to collect the browsing information from Chrome, Safari and Firefox, and send them to a server in Communist china via 'adscan.yelabapp.com' every bit function of a zipped filed called 'history.zip'.
Prior to its removal, the app was priced at $5, and was the number one paid app in its category on the platform. It described itself as a security software that'southward designed to "prevent malware and malicious files from infecting your Mac", just equally it apparently turns out, only used its supposed anti-adware credentials as a cover to bypass Apple tree's sandboxing and gain access to users' home directory.
Apple hasn't still issued an official statement on the removal of Adware Physician from the Mac App Store, but the software is believed to have violated the company's "Data Collection and Storage" guidelines, which warn developers that they "may not utilise, transmit, or share someone'south personal data without offset obtaining their permission". The guidelines farther country that, "Data collected for one purpose may not be repurposed without further consent unless otherwise explicitly permitted past law".
Source: https://beebom.com/apple-removes-adware-doctor/
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